Random Tips #2

Random Tips #2

I like to cover a subject in-depth, like I do in the Frequently Asked Kindle Questions category. However, that can be a lot to swallow at one time. I like giving you the big picture, the whys and wherefores. Sometimes, though, you just want to hear something cool and self-contained. So, this time, I’m just going to give you little random tips. After all, you can search the blog to find things…even if they are in a patchwork quilt post. This is the second in a series…thanks for letting me know you liked the first one!

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Want to search your e-mail on your Kindle Fire? Swipe down when you get to the message list.

Want to report misspellings or other errors on a Kindle Touch? Highlight it, then tap More, Report Content Error.

Want to see which books have recently delivered to which Kindles/apps on your account? http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle – Pending Deliveries – scroll down and click to View Recent Successful Deliveries.

Want to quickly add books to a Collection? Open the Collection (not an individual book), and choose to Add/Remove Items. Once you’ve selected the ones you want, you can go to Home..you don’t need to click or tap the Done button first.

Want to play a particular sound recording when you choose on a Reflective Screen Kindle? Put it in the Audible folder, rather than the Music folder. It will appear like an e-book in your homescreen.

Want to change which Kindle is the default when you buy something from the Kindle store? First, if you shop from your Kindle, that should be the default. Second, it’s done when you shop on your computer alphabetically (except that hardware Kindles come before Kindle apps…and Kindle Fires are treated like Kindle apps). You can go to http://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle, Manage Your Devices. Under the column that says “Kindle Name”, you’ll see a link that says “Edit” in the record for each of your devices.

“Want to report misspellings or other errors on a Kindle Touch? Highlight it, then tap More, Report Content Error.”

I hope this feature will come to the Kbd Kindle in the summer. I’m curious to know more in the meantime. You mentioned about a week ago that you were contacting a publisher about some screwups in its Kindle book. If you were to use the Touch to do that next time you make a similar complaint, you could report back on what the process was like–and what feedback you get. E.g., is there a message posted saying that “your error report has been forwarded to the publisher”? Or is it sent to the author? Or both? And does the message hint that they may report back to you, or does it say that a reply can’t be expected? It would be easy to find a “typo” or other reportable error you could use as a test within a week or so.

A full-featured error-reporting mechanism would enable the Kindle to capture the all-important usage-snob market-segment, FWIW. 😉

I would never have described my highlighting apparent errors and sending them as a “complaint” or as a “screwup”. 🙂 I send them to the publisher, not because I want some sort of repair of the situation (which I would hope is the purpose of a complaint), but so they will improve the product for other people.

Almost no one catches all of the errors, so I don’t really consider it a “screwup” if there are a few. Although I must say, I am reading a book published by Amazon, and it’s been impeccable so far…I’m more than 50% through it.

If I get a reasonable opportunity to test that system, I will and report back.